Have you heard through the ‘grape vine’ that red wine is heart healthy? Well, this may be attributed to a type of naturally occurring antioxidant (aka polyphenol) called resveratrol. Today we will explore resveratrol, how it works along with the possible health benefits!
What is Resveratrol?
Resveratrol is a type of antioxidant that is found in the skin of red grapes. Red wine contains more polyphenols than white wine since red wine is fermented in grape skins for longer periods. Resveratrol can be found in other foods as well such as grapes, peanuts, cranberries, blueberries and grape juice.
Health Benefits of Red Wine:
Resveratrol appears to protect the lining of blood vessels by preventing plaque build-up, this decreases the...
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This is a follow-up to my previous blog post entitled, the Scoop on Inulin. We have already discussed how inulin is a type of fibre that many food manufactures use to achieve a “high fibre”claim on their products. Today, I will delve into how inulin works in the body and why some people experience symptoms of intolerance (ie. gas, bloating, stomach pain or diarrhea).
How inulin works in the body:
Upon ingestion of inulin, this type of fibre moves through the body undigested (like other fibres) and into the large intestine where it is fermented by your intestinal bacteria. This is why inulin is...
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With all the hype on high fibre foods and their associated health benefits, it is no wonder that we are seeing more and more products emerge on grocery shelves boasting the extremely sought-after high fibre claim. This blog will explore one of the most common ways that these high fibre claims are achieved, which is often through the use of an ingredient called inulin.
What is Inulin?
Inulin naturally occurs in some plants and is a type of dietary fibre since the human body cannot digest it. More specifically, inulin is a fructan, which is basically a fancy word to imply that there are fructose (sugar) components. Fructans occur in foods such as asparagus, leeks, garlic, onions and artichokes and...
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March is Nutrition Month- a time for Canadians to celebrate healthy food choices and the positive impact these have on our health and personal well-being.
During March, we need to join together and talk about nutrition in order to raise awareness on the link between healthy eating and disease prevention. Nutrition plays a crucial role in many chronic health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, obesity etc. Nutrition Month is also a time to promote the role of Registered Dietitians as your trusted source for science-based recommendations.
FYI: Nutrition Month first started in 1973 where it was a week-long event. By 1980, with the increased interest in nutrition, the campaign increased to a month long event.
Our 2013...
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What is better: cow’s milk, soy milk, almond milk, rice milk or coconut milk? Are they nutritionally equivalent - meaning they have the same amounts of calcium, fat and protein? If you have asked yourself these questions you have come to the right spot!
First, before doing a nutritional comparison, it is important to mention that people choose dairy alternatives for diverse reasons. If you are a vegetarian or a vegan you might choose a milk alternative, like soy or almond milk, because they are plant-based. Additionally, if you are lactose intolerant you might choose an...
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As a dietitian in private practice, I am always intrigued when clients introduce me to new nutrition apps they use diligently on their smart phones to track their food and physical activity. What a great tool to use on a healthy living and/or weight loss journey. This blog is dedicated to introducing weight loss apps that come highly recommended.
Tip: To make these trackers most useful enter your food and activity right after consumption or activity to increase the accuracy and your awareness.
Of the 3 apps I will review today, there are components they all have in common:
• Track food intake throughout the day
• Account for energy expenditure vs. dietary intake
• Input weight and height along with goals
•...
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If you are relentlessly trying to lose weight you may have already blamed your sluggish metabolism. Conversely, if you are struggling to gain weight, you may have concluded that you have a super speedy metabolism allowing you to eat everything you want without gaining a pound. Either way, the term‘metabolism’ describes a measure of how efficiently your body burns food as fuel. Likewise, since metabolism impacts the rate at which we burn calories, this will have an impact on how quickly bodies gain or lose weight.
Today, let’s explore the factors that determine our metabolism or the rate at which we burn calories (aka metabolic rate). First, it is important to mention factors that are outside our control.
• Age: After the age of 40 years, metabolism...
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Today is the annual day of Pancakes! Also known as Pancake Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. Wow, those are a lot of names for one single day! Nevertheless, are you curious on the origins of Pancake Tuesday? Wondering why pancakes or why at this time of year? If you are looking for answers, I am happy to say that you have come to the right place :)
Why on Tuesday?
Pancake Tuesday happens around the same time each year and always falls on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent, which is the season with 40 days of preparation...
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Welcome to the middle of the month dedicated to promoting Heart Health. To help celebrate this momentous time, I have brought in my very first guest blogger Amanda Li, the talented Registered Dietitian and chef. Amanda has a passion for creating the finest foods to foster health and well-being.
Thank you Amanda for sharing your exceptional culinary expertise with us at Dietetic Directions!
Fish 101:
The 1st of February not only marked the start of Heart Health Month, but also the beginning of a Fish and Seafood Module in Culinary school! Today I will share with you how to master the art of cooking fish and encourage you to try new ingredient-pairings with your fish. This blog could possibly...
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